ULAB2014 at the University of Edinburgh

Information about the conference

Formed in 2011, the Undergraduate Linguistics Association of Britain (ULAB) brought together undergraduate students from all over the UK for a conference at the University of Edinburgh, which was a great success.

The following year, ULAB 2011’s success was repeated at the University of West England, Bristol. Again, sharing, networking, meeting and greeting. Linguists being linguists. In 2013 ULAB became even bigger and better, with a great conference at the University of York.

This year Edinburgh has been elected to host for a second time. If you would like to attend please register (see below) and make a weekend of it. There’s a whole network of language enthusiasts just like you.

WHAT: ULAB2014 at the University of Edinburgh

Talks, Poster Session, Refreshments, Linguists!

WHEN: Saturday 26th / Sunday 27th April 2014

There will be a meet-and-greet in a pub on the evening of Friday 25h April for those who have arrived by then, but don’t worry if you can’t make it.

WHERE: OldCollege, SouthBridge, Edinburgh

Click here for information on transportation, accommodation and Edinburgh in general.

General Information for Presenters and Attendees

If you haven’t been at a conference before, you might want us to explain the jargon a bit. The abstract is the short summary of your talk that you submit so we can decide whether to accept it and so we know what talks to put where in the programme. The final talk doesn’t have to be exactly the same as what you put in the abstract. Abstracts are judged on academic merit but you are very likely to be accepted. You will have 15 minutes talk time (though 10 minutes papers are acceptable too) which will be followed by Q&A. Your talk is known as a paper (even though it is actually a small lecture not a document!). Giving your paper at a conference is called presenting. Attendees are known as delegates, whether or not they are giving a paper. Telling us you’re coming to the conference is called registration and delegates pay a small registration fee to cover costs (such as refreshments).

If you’re not keen on presenting your paper, you are welcome to take part in the poster session. There will be a poster display throughout the two days so people can look at them during the breaks. You can also take part if you are presenting your paper, since we will probably have simultaneous sessions going on, some people might not be able to come to your talk and it would be nice for them to be able see a poster about it.

Papers on any topic in linguistics you have researched as an undergraduate can be accepted. Postgrad students can give papers at ULAB, but only on work they did as an undergrad. Typically people present work that formed part of their final year dissertation, but this is not always the case. Any research you’ve done in your spare time or any idea you’ve been developing can be presented: it can be work in progress and doesn’t have to be finished results. You will be among peers so there’s no need to be too nervous: you will receive lots of constructive feed-back and new ideas and perspectives, not just in questions after your paper but also in the tea-breaks (the most important part of a conference!) and the socializing parts of the week-end.

It is planned that speakers at the conference will be given the chance to have their papers published in a volume of proceedings. This means that you will be given a few months after the conference to submit a more polished, written version of your paper which will be included in a book a bit like a journal which will be published either online or in physical form (more information about this will be made available later).

The conference contains other elements besides papers: there will also be an AGM (annual general meeting) to elect the new national committee of ULAB, to ratify the new constitution, and to select the next venue. If you wish your university to host ULAB 2015, you will be given a chance at the AGM to make a proposal and it will be voted on by everyone present. Apart from the formal parts of the conference, there will also be a meet and greet, a meal, other chances to socialize and explore the city.

Information about Edinburgh

Accommodation

We will organize for as many attendees as possible to couch-surf/stay in spare rooms with linguistics students in Edinburgh (first come, first served. The deadline is on March 31). Please tick the box on the registration form if you would like to have this opportunity. Alternatively, there is plentiful of hostels and other budget accommodation in the centre of Edinburgh within ten minutes’ walk of the venue.

Getting Here

Edinburgh can easily be reached from across the UK by train, bus or plane. Once in the city you will probably only need to walk as the venue is very centrally located, but if you need a bus they are frequent, reliable and cheap – more information can be found at http://lothianbuses.com/.

About Edinburgh

To see Gina’s information brochure from 2011 about what Edinburgh has to offer, see below.